Dronapushpi is Sanskrit name of
plant Leucas cephalotes. It is a medicinal herb that grows as a weed in India
and many South East Asian countries. The folk use of this herb is for treating
scorpion stings, snake bite, cough, fever etc. The whole plant has fever
educing and insecticidal properties. The leaves are applied externally on snake
bites and scorpion stings.

Part used: leaves and flowers

Traditional medicinal uses

It has antimicrobial, insecticidal,
fever reducing, larvicidal and inflammation reducing properties. It is useful
in skin diseases. In malarial fever, the leaves juice is given. In some part of
country, the decoction of whole plant is used for curing fever. The juice
removes toxins from body. The leaves juice is applied externally for skin
diseases and swelling. In cold and cough, the leaves juice is recommended.

Scorpion sting

In scorpion sting the plant is used
internally as well externally. The leaves juice (few drops) is mixed with honey
and taken orally. Topically, the leaves juice is applied on place of sting.

Snake bite

The folk remedy is to put few drops
of whole plant in nostrils.

Skin diseases, removing blood toxins

Skin diseases mainly occur due to
toxins in blood. Dronapushpi plant has ability to flush the toxins from body. In
skin diseases, whole plant of Dronapushpi is used. The plant is dried. Five
grams of dried powder is taken with three grams Neem/Margosa leaves in 2 glass
water. This is boiled till volume reduce to one fourth. Then it filtered and
taken two times a day.

Abnormally heavy bleeding at
menstruation

The leaves of plant are taken a
handful. These are washed and then ground to make fine paste. This paste is
mixed with lemon juice and sesame oil/til oil (edible). The preparation is
eaten empty stomach every morning for a week.

Asthma, cold, cough

The leaves juice of plant is taken
in dose of 1-3 teaspoons.

Excessive thirst

The flowers (2 tablespoon) are
boiled in water (150 ml) till volume reduces to half. This is filtered and
taken thrice a day.

The juice of leaves is put in nostrils
as drops. For this purpose, the leaves juice is extracted and mixed with two
times water. Then the diluted juice is put in nostrils (4 dops) for 3-4 days. The
flowers are heated in til/sesame oil and applied on head.

Fever (acute, chronic), Allergy

The decoction of plant (2-3 grams in
boiled in two glass water till water reduces to one fourth) is used

Caution:

This medicinal herb should be used
in recommended doses only. It is hot in potency and heats up body. Avoid its
use in excess. The leaves juice can be diluted for putting in nose of oral use.